Statewide Depression Summit: Growing Success

NET and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center convened a statewide series of discussions focusing on creating pathways to the successful treatment of depression in communities across Nebraska. The objective of the summit was for Nebraskans to dialogue with each other, and with experts, about what communities can do to plan for and create opportunities for successful treatment of depression. Invited summit participants included consumers and advocates for depression treatment, policymakers, business and community leaders, and health professionals from across the state.

Although the summit was based in Lincoln, NE, individuals from Chadron, Grand Island, and Omaha participated through live video conferencing. The summit's format was based around facilitated small group discussion sessions where participants dialogued with each other about personal and local success stories of treatment. After the small group discussion sessions, participants reported back to the entire summit audience about their findings. An expert panel was convened, featuring Dave Miers, a professional counselor and mental health services manager at BryanLGH Medical Center; Dr. Blaine Shaffer, the Chief Clinical Officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services; Chaplain David Smith of the Nebraska National Guard; and Constance Zimmer, a consumer advocate.

The keynote speaker was comedian, humorist, and writer Dick Cavett, who talked about his own personal battles with depression. He is pictured at the left with Kate Speck.

Key Partners
NET, BryanLGH, Alegent Health Behavioral Health, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Nebraska, Nebraska Health and Human Services, and the Mental Health Association of Nebraska.

Funding
The project part of a national PBS initiative called Depression: Out of the Shadows, with funding and support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, PBS viewers, The Ritter Foundation, Inc., and Mental Insight Foundation.